What to do in and around Manchester
 

Husband and I will be in Manchester in early October for 4 nights at the Equinox Inn. What are some things to do in that area of Vermont? We love the outdoors, antiques, wine, cheese. Is syrup and cheese made in that part of Vermont? Just now starting the planning process and thought we would get some recommendations...Thanks!

http://www.manchestervermont.net/
http://www.manchesterdesigneroutlets.com/

Here are a few websites that have info. Also, check with your hotel. Manchester, VT is a small, but really cute town.

I love that area of Vermont. As you probably know by now that area is known for outlet stores in Manchester Center. As far as town activities go, there is a great independent bookstore and lots of good restaurants. Hildene is great-Robert Todd Lincoln's home that I believe is just a few miles from the Equinox. It's so beautiful just to drive around and see the leaves-I particularly like the Battenkill River Valley, especially the road to Arlington going toward the NY border. I know they make cheese in Grafton, VT and I'm sure plenty of other places but that's the only place I am sure of. The town of Woodstock is worth a visit-there is a neat working farm and a beautiful home you can tour (can't remember whose house it is!) and nice shops and restaurants.

That would be the Billings Farm Museum near Woodstock. If you get as far as Woodstock, dine at Simon Pierce in Quechee or at least explore the building. They generate their own hydro-electric power.
Syrup is boiled in Feb/March when sap can be collected. Google Vermont Cheese Trail for farms you can visit. We love Brandon VT but have only visited during the summer. Oct 2 is their harvest festival when you can make scarecrows. I believe they decorate the town with them and leave them up for several weeks. Definitely attend a foliage or harvest festival.

The Bennington Museum has an interesting collection, including many works by Grandma Moses. Farther south in Williamstown, MA, the Clark Institute is an outstanding art museum

There are many cheese makers in Vermont now, and the cheese is not all cheddar. See http://www.vtcheese.com/
Grafton cheese is very good, and the town is beautiful. Other places you could consider are the Crowley Cheese Factory in Mt. Holly and the cheese factory in Plymouth at the Calvin Coolidge homestead, another lovely spot.

Manchester is a charming little town that gets lots of visitors due to the outlet stores. As someone else mentioned, Grafton Cheese is not too far away. Grafton itself is an interesting town - perhaps the most perfectly manicured village in Vt. Sugar houses are very common throughout Vermont. Although there are a few wineries, this part of the world is not known for fine wines. You won't have any problem finding antiques.
There are lots of outdoor activities - hiking, bicycling, kayaking, etc.

We stayed in Dorset, near Manchester, in Oct 2008. I do remember going for a nice walk through fields & woods to an abandoned farm but I don't remember the name. It is close to Dorset. We found out about it through the B & B we stayed in. We took a horse-drawn wagon back from the farm to our car. It was easy & pleasant. I'm sure the Equinox will have the information.

Also took a drive to the top of a mountain (perhaps Mt. Equinox?). The road to the top is literally along the top of the mountain & there are beautiful views.

We love the bookstore in Manchester that someone else recommended. Also, just driving around is beautiful. We drove all the way to Green Mountain State College (I think) - close to the NY border.

Here is a link to information about sugar houses around the state
http://vermontmaple.org/open-year-round.php

Haven't done sightseeing in this part of Vermont, but a quick check of attractions shows the following close by:

--Hildene (a historic home once owned by Robert Todd Lincoln).
--American Museum of Fly Fishing.
--Norman Rockwell Exhibition (in nearby Arlington, VT).

As has been suggested above, there are several things to see and do in Bennington, Woodstock, and Williamstown MA.

We're retired and live not far from Manchester, and we enjoy driving there rather often to shop or dine.

As mentioned already, the Northshire Bookstore in Manchester Center, on Main Street (Route 7), is a terrific book store and worth a visit. (They serve unusual lunches in there, too.)

If you get a chance, you might check out the Vermont Country Store in the town of Weston, not too far away. They have a LOT of unusual merchandise, "old fashioned" stuff, and zillions of free samples of cheeses, relishes, jams, etc. (We used to tease about stopping in there "for lunch"!)

Dining in and around Manchester offers a lot of variety. If you turn up Route 30, heading off old Route 7 (Main Street) to the highway Route 7, you'll pass some more outlet stores and such, as well as the Sirloin Saloon. We like Garlic John's up that way, and Zoey's, too.

If you drive north on Route 7 toward Rutland, the White Dog restaurant will be on your left, set back from the road. This is a charming old 1812 place, with lovely atmosphere and fine food. (Try their unusual horseradish dressing on the salad. Lisa's prime rib is to die for, too, and Tom also mixes a fabulous drink!)

Woodstock is a bit farther away, but if you get there, check out Gillingham's General Store! They have EVERYTHING in there in the way of unusual foods, spices and other things.

Yes, we love to eat. Can you tell? LOL!

By the way, be aware that there is a highway Route 7 from Bennington up to Dorset, with exits for Arlington, Manchester, etc., or "old Route 7" (7A), which wends its way on up to Rutland and beyond, too. Both will take you north to Dorset, but 7A is more "quaint".

I also hasten to add that, while Vermont Route 100 is hailed as THE spectacular scenic drive, as you head north on Route 7 toward Rutland at that time of year, when the foliage is out, you cannot help but be awed by the sheer wonder of the Green Mountains, off to your east! As we have observed more than once, "Only God can paint like that!"

We retired up here several years ago from another state, and we adore our adopted state!

Thanks to all for the suggestions.

I signed my husband up for the 1/2 day fly fishing through the Equinox--has anyone done this? It's not the class portion, it's actually on the water.

I hear a lot about the Perfect Wife Restaurant...any reviews?

When I was first married [1974], we rent an apt in a house in suburban NY owned by a couple who decided to give up the corporated life and buy a bookstore in Manchester VT. We almost followed suit, looked at buying a flower/gift shop in Manchester. We got close, but in the end, we chickened out.

This thread caught my eye and as I read the posts and saw mention of a bookstore, I thought I would take a look see. Well - darned if it isn't the one opened by my former landlords, Ed and Barbara Morrow! Small world...

When I lived in NY, we used to go to Manchester to ski. Grafton Cheese sold wonderful curds - yum. Vermont Country Store is a fun place to visit.

The Perfect Wife is an excellent choice for dinner.

I visit friends annually in Arlington & we always hit the
outlet shops, visit the bookstore which IS fab, and take in
the last play of the season in Bennington. From 10/1 to 10/16
Clifford Odets' Awake & Sing will be performed at:

http://www.oldcastletheatre.org/

this ia bldg. that also houses an art gallery w/marvelous
sculpture outside. We usually hit the early-bird special
at Allday & Onions.

If your husband is into fishing, Orvis has a retail store on 7A in Manchester.

For those interested in history, Hildene, the Robert Todd Lincoln home is very interesting, and the grounds are pretty.

Orvis was founded in Manchester and it's HQ are there. Make sure you visit the store and it's trout ponds. They also offer fly fishing clinics.

Thanks for all the suggestions! Husband is doing a 1/2 day fly fishing trip (on the water) while I do the spa. We will also check out the cheese trail, Hildene (and the arts festival there from Oct 1-3), Vermont General Store, fit in some hiking and of course, food!

Here are the recommendations we've gotten so far:

Up for Breakfast
The Lawyer and The Baker
Al Ducci's (picnic stuff)
The Dorset Inn
The Perfect Wife
Bistro Henry
The Reluctant Panther
Sirloin Saloon
White Dog Tavern

Any other suggestions are welcome!

. I would suggest the Park-McCullough House in Bennington. My sister is the Director!!
http://www.parkmccullough.org/

There's also a good local restaurant down the street a bit called Kevin's. Nothing fancy just great food and usually packed with locals.

www.kevinssportspubandrestaurant.com/

Have fun. I love the Equinox.